Symptoms of diabetes: If You're Aged 18-34 Then You Could Be At Risk

Almost half of those newly diagnosed with the condition are under 35

a) It's a condition not worth worrying about (in which case, you're in company with a fellow 27%)

b) I've just received a diagnosis (in which case, if you're aged 18-34, you're joined by 48%)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Results from a recent survey of 2,000 people, 48% of those diagnosed with the symptoms of diabetes (type 2) in the past year alone have been under 35. Scary stuff.

But the good news is, according to LloydsPharmacy who carried out the survey, that in some cases, symptoms of diabtes can be reversed with the right diet and exercise.

"Being diagnosed with any long-term condition can be overwhelming and knowing what to do and how best to manage it can be tricky," says LloydsPharmacy pharmacist Francesca Brenca. "It's our aim to support all those living with type 2 diabetes so that they can still enjoy life as they used to as well as maintaining their health."

Hang on a second, though. You eat well, right? A banana and mixed berry smoothie is your breakfast go-to; dried fruit bars are your daily snack; and you have an OJ with your greens at dinner because, you know, the juice’s vitamin C increases your body’s uptake of the vegetables’ iron. And you regularlay sweat it out at a nightly HIIT class.

It's habits like these, however, that could be unwittingly increasing your risk of developing the symptoms of diabetes.

'Smoothies contain less fibre than a whole piece of fruit and are a more accessible way of getting glucose into your system, while dried fruits are a more concentrated source of sugar,'' says Emma Elvin, clinical advisor at diabetes charity Diabetes UK.

"It’s quite easy to have too much of both – providing excess calories and sugar. If blood sugar levels remain high for too long, it can lead to complications of diabetes."

FACTORS THAT AFFECT DIABETES

1. Weight

Being overweight can increase your risk of developing symptoms of diabetes, especially if you’re large around the middle.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

2. Diet

Eating a diet high in sugary or fatty foods can make you put on weight. And, when it comes to smoothies and dried fruit - all those healthy foods could be actually upping your risk; keep servings to 150ml and 30g per day, respectively.

3. Exercise regime

Leading a sedentary lifestyle and not meeting the recommended 150 minutes of activity each week, spread over five days, can trigger symptoms of diabetes.

There are also factors which are out of your control – think your family history, age and ethnic background (particularly those aged over 25 from the South Asian or Afro Caribbean population) – but, in short, by ensuring you eat right and exercise smart, it’s possible to reduce and delay your risk of developing the symptoms of diabetes.

And before you ask why you should even care, consider the long-term impacts of diabetes. "Instances of type 2 diabetes are increasing quite dramatically," Elvin says. "Which is worrying because, left undiagnosed, it can lead to complications such as damage to the eyes, heart disease, problems with kidney function, poor circulation and reduced nerve sensation, and amputation," Elvin says.

Want to know how to keep symptoms of diabetes at bay? Read on.

WHAT CAUSES DIABETES?

First up, time to get technical - when it comes to diabetes it’s not a case of one size fits all.

"Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where your body can’t produce insulin, whereas type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or where the insulin it does produce, isn’t as effective as it used to be," Elvin says. Which matters because?

"When you eat food that contains carbohydrates, these are broken down into glucose – a type of sugar," says Elvin. "This glucose moves into the bloodstream causing the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone which allows glucose to get into the body’s cells to be used for energy." Hello, fired up you.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

"But if your body can’t release enough or any insulin, or if the insulin it is releasing doesn’t function properly, blood sugar levels will continue to rise, which, over time, can lead to complications," she says. The result?

"In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas will initially secrete more insulin until eventually the pancreas will start to wear itself out," Elvin says. Meet the advanced stage of type 2 diabetes.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?

Given the nature of the condition, symptoms of diabetes develop gradually, over time. According to the LloydsPharmacy survey, most people (93%) experienced one or more symptoms and indications of risk prior to diagnosis, and 42% feel they could have prevented themselves from developing the condition if they'd realised what they're body was trying to tell them. Symptoms of diabetes, include:

Increased need to pass urine

"The body tries to get rid of glucose through the kidneys," Elvin says.

Thirst

"As the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood, they take a lot of water with it."

Thrush or genital itching

"The urine contains glucose and creates an environment where it’s easy for bacteria to thrive."

Slow healing

"Because the blood contains glucose too, more bacteria than usual will breed in flesh wounds."

Blurred vision

"Glucose can build up in the lens at front of the eye causing the liquid in the lens to become cloudy."

Tiredness

"The glucose can’t get into the cells to be used for energy."

Unexplained weight loss

"The body still needs an energy source so it starts to break down its fat stores."

"If you’re concerned that you might be showing any of these symptoms of diabetes – whether you’ve been experiencing them recently or for a while – or if you think that you may have an increased risk of diabetes (there’s a simple risk assessment tool for type 2 diabetes on the Diabetes UK website), get a blood test done through your GP," Elvin says. Or book a free screening through Lloyds Pharmacy.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

And, as the symptoms of diabetes can often go undiagnosed for up to 10 years, it’s worth playing it safe.

"The earlier you can catch it – especially for women in their late 20s and 30s – the better because you’re reducing your risk of developing the complications already mentioned," Elvin says.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY RISK OF DIABETES?

Diabetes is the fastest growing health threat with numbers of people with diabetes more than doubling in the past 20 years - and, as we've already highlighted, almost half of people newly diagnosed are under under 35. It's estimated five million plus people in the UK have the diabetes (1.1 million of which don't even know it).

In fact, at least one person will have been diagnosed in the time it’s taken you to read this article.

Now for some good news. "Around three in five cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by having a healthy weight and lifestyle, being active and eating a balanced diet," Elvin says.

Sounds straightforward enough. Well, turns out certain foods and exercises pack a great punch when it comes to fighting the symptoms of diabetes and it needn’t be a chore.

Just half an hour of activity a day, coupled with a low-fat diet, has been shown by US research to more than halve your risk of developing symptoms of diabetes. Ready to sign up?

We asked PT Carly Rowena, who recently fronted the LloydsPharmacy Let’s Talk Diabetes campaign, which aimed to raise awareness of the 1.1 million people in the UK living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, to share some simple ways of reducing your risk of symptoms of diabetes through exercise.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Walk more

"It sounds basic but it really makes a big difference," says Rowena. Indeed, according to the Duke University Medical Center, walking briskly on a regular basis may be more effective than vigorous jogging for improving glucose control.

Work out during the ads

"You don’t need to spend money or become a member of the gym to exercise – do squats and press-ups while you watch TV," Rowena says.

Create your own mini HIIT circuit – shown in a study published in Frontier in Physiology to help combat high insulin resistance. Or try one of the best 7 minute at home youtube workouts, instead.

Manage your stress

"Do yoga or some stretching on a rest day," Rowena says. "I love the Romwod stretch app online for sequences I can do at home."

And, with positive links found between stress and diabetes by both Rice University and the German Research Centre for Environmental Health – their team noted a 45% higher risk of developing symptoms of diabetes in those under a high level of pressure at work, best get your om on.

Looking for more tips on how to reduce your risk of symptoms of diabetes? Try these 6 ways to prevent prediabetes and Brenca also recommends cutting down on sugar, eating less fried or fatty foods, choosing lean meat and grilling it, and cutting down on salt. For ideas on the best dishes to eat to lower your risk, visitletstalkdiabetes.co.uk.

I’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES, WHAT NOW?

"Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition so, although some people may be able to manage their symptoms of diabetes through diet and lifestyle initially – or even put them into remission – there is a chance that they will at some point progress to a stage that requires medication," Elvin says.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Tablets

These are typically the first line of treatment and include the likes of Metformin, a drug that reduces the amount of glucose released by the liver into the bloodstream, and also makes your cells more responsive to insulin; sulphonylureas, which increase the amount of insulin that’s produced by your pancreas and pioglitazone, which makes your cells more sensitive to insulin so that more glucose is removed from the blood stream, among others.

Injections

Insulin would be broken down in the stomach if given in tablet form so must be injected into the abdomen, if required.

Pumps

These are portable devices that are attached to the body to continuously deliver insulin into the body.

Inhalers

These provide a rapid-acting inhaled insulin that is taken ahead of a meal.

For more information about and support for the symptoms of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and more – visit diabetes.org.uk.

Think there might another reason for your tiredness or discomfort "down there"? Read this if you constantly find yourself asking why am I feeling tired all the time? And here's how to take action against recurring thrush.

Women's Health, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network
Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.